Vodafone X - €20 Prepay Offers

Bob24 · 29-03-2017 10:34am

biebiebie wrote: »

Has anyone else had problems getting 4g?

Only getting 3g here.
Phone is set correctly and I'm in a 4g area.

Read some older VF support threads that suggests you have to wait up to 48 hours for 4g to be provisioned on new accounts?

I can confirm I was not getting 4G service for the first day or 2 (in a Dublin city centre location where it is clearly available), and after that initial period the phone started reporting 4G service exactly from the same location (on my desk :-)) and without me doing anything.

biebiebie · 29-03-2017 10:40am

Thanks Bob.
Guess I'll have to play the waiting game so.
3g isn't the end of the world!

Luap · 29-03-2017 11:00am

Still haven't got a 4g connection since porting over Monday.

Still better then Three's 4g.

Bob24 · 29-03-2017 11:06am

Luap wrote: »

Still better then Three's 4g.

Yes that was my experience as well. At peek hours in Dublin city centre Vodafone's 3G is very clearly working better for me than Three's 4G.

biebiebie · 29-03-2017 1:41pm

Turned on/off airplane mode just there and now I'm seeing 4g. Happy days.

selfbuilder1 · 29-03-2017 6:05pm

Just signed up to this offer. The joys of being 20 again! Thanks OP.

bren2001 · 29-03-2017 6:14pm

Anyone know how to port over earlier than specified? Just got my son, not expected to switch till Friday.

frostypants · 29-03-2017 6:25pm

Just got my sim and went through the instructions. Told me to Top UP so topped up by e20. Still no verification of top up and can't sign in to vodafone also. Hopefully it goes through

DopeTech · 29-03-2017 6:29pm

frostypants wrote: »

Just got my sim and went through the instructions. Told me to Top UP so topped up by e20. Still no verification of top up and can't sign in to vodafone also. Hopefully it goes through

Are you able to call your phone? Have you registered for my Vodafone? What does it say your balance is when you dial *174#

biebiebie · 29-03-2017 6:32pm

Try their online chat, they should be able to help you get it sorted.

frostypants · 29-03-2017 6:39pm

Well I have an 087 number so used to be with vodafone before moving from 48. Just got the texts that I've topped up and I have 20GB data etc. I can make phone calls and have 0.50c credit on account. Just can't login to vodafone

http://imgur.com/a/ccW41

Will try later

DopeTech · 29-03-2017 6:47pm

frostypants wrote: »

Well I have an 087 number so used to be with vodafone before moving from 48. Just got the texts that I've topped up and I have 20GB data etc. I can make phone calls and have 0.50c credit on account. Just can't login to vodafone

http://imgur.com/a/ccW41

Will try later

Have you went through the myvodafone registration process since you ported back? If so, you'll need to get onto their online chat.

frostypants · 29-03-2017 6:48pm

Anyone else have issues with 4G? I've SGS6E+ and only getting 0.6mbps H+ speeds. Mrs who also with vodafone with iPhone getting 20mbps+ and 4G

frostypants · 29-03-2017 6:48pm

FrostyJim wrote: »

Have you went through the myvodafone registration process since you ported back? If so, you'll need to get onto their online chat.

Can't register as it says i'm already registed (from last time probably). Yeah looking like I have to get onto chat now

Carroller · 29-03-2017 6:58pm

frostypants wrote: »

Anyone else have issues with 4G? I've SGS6E+ and only getting 0.6mbps H+ speeds. Mrs who also with vodafone with iPhone getting 20mbps+ and 4G

I've one plus 3t and have only gotten H/H+ so far. Dunno if it's the phone or network. Still fast I find

nanook5 · 29-03-2017 7:59pm

Carroller wrote: »

I've one plus 3t and have only gotten H/H+ so far. Dunno if it's the phone or network. Still fast I find

Dial *#*#4636#*#* and change to LTE only to see if you can pick up 4G signal

Carroller · 29-03-2017 8:11pm

nanook5 wrote: »

Dial *#*#4636#*#* and change to LTE only to see if you can pick up 4G signal

Worked straight away. Fair play

biebiebie · 29-03-2017 11:57pm

frostypants wrote: »

Can't register as it says i'm already registed (from last time probably). Yeah looking like I have to get onto chat now

Can you try it with a different email address?
(Not sure if they are basing it on the number or your email)

breathn · 30-03-2017 12:05am

Luap wrote: »

Tethering away without any problems.... so far

Are you tethering on iPhone or Android?

Would love to hear if anyone is able to tether on iPhone with this plan.

DopeTech · 30-03-2017 5:25am

breathn wrote: »

Are you tethering on iPhone or Android?

Would love to hear if anyone is able to tether on iPhone with this plan.

Probably only possible by jailbreaking to remove the hs.vodafone.com apn.

Klingon Hamlet · 30-03-2017 5:40am

nanook5 wrote: »

Dial *#*#4636#*#* and change to LTE only to see if you can pick up 4G signal

Hi see attached, I can't seem to select LTE only....

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 7:20am

For me (and possibly others) this seems to be using only a subset (limited) part of the VF network.

The upshot of this is that I have, just like iD Mobile, a poor signal on my phone.

I have used the Opensignal app (Android) and observe the following.

I am connected to phone masts that are a far distance away. This is despite the fact that there are many other VF phone masts closer to me.

I was reading the terms and conditions before I signed up, and I guess I now understand section 16.

Basically we have to use live.vodafine.ie and not hs.vodafine.ie.

It appears to me that Live uses only a subset of the Vodafone network of phone masts. I guess that HS (High Speed?) offers a wider range (maybe all) of phone masts.

So depending on your physical location, you may find yourself using a weaker signal.

It might also mean that you are connected to a higher contention connection, as more "cheap plans" could be routed through it.

I suppose you may be lucky enough to live\work beside one of the Live phone masts, and you won't see this limitation so much.

Here's the Android app Opensignal.
Can anyone else test my theory?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.staircase3.opensignal

Here's the subset of the VF terms and conditions.

http://www.vodafone.ie/terms/pay-as-you-go/#vodafonex-general

16. The 20GB data allowance can be used to access the internet via the below Access Point Networks only: wap.vodafone.ie & live.vodafone.com. Tethering over the HS APN or any other use of the HS APN will incur OOB charges.

DopeTech · 30-03-2017 7:27am

biebiebie wrote: »

For me (and possibly others) this seems to be using only a subset (limited) part of the VF network.

The upshot of this is that I have, just like iD Mobile, a poor signal on my phone.

I have used the Opensignal app (Android) and observe the following.

I am connected to phone masts that are a far distance away. This is despite the fact that there are many other VF phone masts closer to me.

I was reading the terms and conditions before I signed up, and I guess I now understand section 16.

Basically we have to use live.vodafine.ie and not hs.vodafine.ie.

It appears to me that Live uses only a subset of the Vodafone network of phone masts. I guess that HS (High Speed?) offers a wider range (maybe all) of phone masts.

So depending on your physical location, you may find yourself using a weaker signal.

It might also mean that you are connected to a higher contention connection, as more "cheap plans" could be routed through it.

I suppose you may be lucky enough to live\work beside one of the Live phone masts, and you won't see this limitation so much.

Here's the Android app Opensignal.
Can anyone else test my theory?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.staircase3.opensignal

Here's the subset of the VF terms and conditions.

http://www.vodafone.ie/terms/pay-as-you-go/#vodafonex-general

ID piggyback on 3, not Vodafone.

I find the signal to be fine. The HS apn is only used for tethering. This plan does not permit tethering therefore we do not have use of it. I don't think we're getting a raw deal here, you just might be unlucky in your location.

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 7:51am

FrostyJim wrote: »

ID piggyback on 3, not Vodafone.

I find the signal to be fine. The HS apn is only used for tethering. This plan does not permit tethering therefore we do not have use of it. I don't think we're getting a raw deal here, you just might be unlucky in your location.

Yes I know that iD use Three.
I was just using that as a comparison. (Potentially iD might also be using a subset of Three network and not the full network?)

Like I say this won't affect everyone.
If you are near a Live phone mast then you wont observe this so easily.

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 7:56am

FrostyJim wrote: »

ID piggyback on 3, not Vodafone.

I find the signal to be fine. The HS apn is only used for tethering. This plan does not permit tethering therefore we do not have use of it. I don't think we're getting a raw deal here, you just might be unlucky in your location.

I thought that earlier in the thread said that tethering is working on VF x?

Is the T&C wording not just a specific warning against using tethering via HS.?

Bob24 · 30-03-2017 8:01am

The T&Cs say you are not allowed to use the live APN for tetheringn, and should use the HS one which will incure separate data charges (it will not use up the 20gb allowance).

But on an Android phone you can decide to be in breach with these and still use the live APN for tethering (whereas on an iPhone the tethering APN settings are locked by Vodafone and presumably set to the HS APN, but I don't think anyone has tried and confirmed).

DopeTech · 30-03-2017 8:01am

biebiebie wrote: »

I thought that earlier in the thread said that tethering is working on VF x?

Is the T&C wording not just a specific warning against using tethering via HS.?

It's works just fine. But you need to delete the hs.vodafone.ie apn from your phone first. Otherwise they will charge you. When you delete it it forces the phone to use the live.vodafone.ie apn which is what your phone uses for regular browsing on your phone.

If you an Android/windows phone it's straight forward. With iphones they have it locked down a bit more so it can't be removed easily.

ErinGoBrath · 30-03-2017 8:09am

I'm on android and hs.vodafone isn't in my apn list

Ive got
Isp.postfone.ie
Isp.vodafone.ie
Live.vodafone.com

Tethering fine for me at no cost

Bob24 · 30-03-2017 8:24am

I'd say they could have written whatever they felt like in the T&Cs to keep options for themselves in case the want to charge later, but might not be necessarily enforcing it for now.

I might give it at try on my iPhone in the coming days.

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 8:35am

Just tested tethering there and can confirm it worked for me.

PAKNET · 30-03-2017 9:05am

biebiebie wrote: »

For me (and possibly others) this seems to be using only a subset (limited) part of the VF network.

The upshot of this is that I have, just like iD Mobile, a poor signal on my phone.

I have used the Opensignal app (Android) and observe the following.

I am connected to phone masts that are a far distance away. This is despite the fact that there are many other VF phone masts closer to me.

I was reading the terms and conditions before I signed up, and I guess I now understand section 16.

Basically we have to use live.vodafine.ie and not hs.vodafine.ie.

It appears to me that Live uses only a subset of the Vodafone network of phone masts. I guess that HS (High Speed?) offers a wider range (maybe all) of phone masts.

So depending on your physical location, you may find yourself using a weaker signal.

It might also mean that you are connected to a higher contention connection, as more "cheap plans" could be routed through it.

I suppose you may be lucky enough to live\work beside one of the Live phone masts, and you won't see this limitation so much.

Here's the Android app Opensignal.
Can anyone else test my theory?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.staircase3.opensignal

Here's the subset of the VF terms and conditions.

http://www.vodafone.ie/terms/pay-as-you-go/#vodafonex-general

The various APN's are used purely to allow Vodafone to bill you differently according to what you're doing (mobile, tethering, mobile broadband).

The standard APN for all customers (and hard coded for iPhone users) is live.vodafone.com.
The tethering APN for all customers (and again hard coded for iPhone users) is office.vodafone.ie.

I believe isp.vodafone.ie is used for broadband and hs.vodafone.ie is used to differentiate the original 3G and the HSDPA+ networks (in essence you could pay for faster 3G). This is effectively redundant now.

I've found OpenSignal cell site maps aren't particularly accurate, or even if they are, it seems to have difficulty in determining which exact mast you are connecting to at any one time.

Also Vodafone have widespread Dual Carrier 3G so your phone can in fact be connected to two different masts simultaneously - this won't show up in OpenSignal.

Further add to the fact that not all sites are 4G enabled (so if your phone is set to prefer 4G at all costs you will connect to the nearest 4G mast, which is not necessarily the nearest mast to you).

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 9:53am

Nice explanation there PAKNET.
Many thanks for the info!

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 8:23pm

If anyone is thinking of tethering and have a balance on your account then I recommend you check to see if you have been charged.

I personally don't recommend this service for free tethering.
I have officially been informed that it is not included.

Sorry I cannot divulge the specifics other than I recommend you check this out for yourself if in any doubt.

Mimikyu · 30-03-2017 8:27pm

This post has been deleted.

DopeTech · 30-03-2017 8:29pm

biebiebie wrote: »

If anyone is thinking of tethering and have a balance on your account then I recommend you check to see if you have been charged.

I personally don't recommend this service for free tethering.
I have officially been informed that it is not included.

Sorry I cannot divulge the specifics other than I recommend you check this out for yourself if in any doubt.

We all know it's not included. But as long as you only use the live.vodafone.ie apn you won't be charged.

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 8:49pm

Captain Morgan wrote: »

I tested on an iPhone and tethering worked fine with no change to any settings. Was not charged.

Currently testing it out on Android. The Live APN was selected but it seems I'm being charged. Just deleted the HS APN and will check if I'm still being charged in a bit.

Yes that's it!
Same!
I have been informed that my phone is automatically changing to HS when I tether and thus being charged!
Even though I don't want anything other than LIVE.
I can't understand how that can be?
It must be the VF network that's routing the tether automatically via HS?
I don't even have HS setup in my apn!

Any network engineers care to chime in with their valued wisdom?

PAKNET · 30-03-2017 8:59pm

I've tethered on an Android handset previously on the vodafone network and the tethering data showed up as going through the Live APN. No additional charges.

If you check your handset access point names menu, do you have more than one APN configured? (Note: you might have a second APN for MMS, that's OK).
If you do, delete it and try again.

There is also the possibility if you originally bought the phone off vodafone that it carries vodafone firmware and they may possibly have hard-coded the hotspot feature to use an APN other than live.vodafone.com within the vodafone firmware. If so you may be out of luck with that particular handset.

ErinGoBrath · 30-03-2017 9:10pm

PAKNET wrote: »

There is also the possibility if you originally bought the phone off vodafone that it carries vodafone firmware and they may possibly have hard-coded the hotspot feature to use an APN other than live.vodafone.com within the vodafone firmware. If so you may be out of luck with that particular handset.

On an ex 3 mobile Android phone and not being charged so sounds like a good explanation

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 9:48pm

PAKNET wrote: »

I've tethered on an Android handset previously on the vodafone network and the tethering data showed up as going through the Live APN. No additional charges.

If you check your handset access point names menu, do you have more than one APN configured? (Note: you might have a second APN for MMS, that's OK).
If you do, delete it and try again.

There is also the possibility if you originally bought the phone off vodafone that it carries vodafone firmware and they may possibly have hard-coded the hotspot feature to use an APN other than live.vodafone.com within the vodafone firmware. If so you may be out of luck with that particular handset.

I'm using a SIM unlocked EU phone from Amazon.
Apn is set for LIVE.
No other name present in the apn.
The only thing I can think of is that I downloaded the Vodafone app from Play Store to be able to check my balance etc. Doubt it's that though?

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 10:13pm

Hmm similar issue here

https://community.vodafone.ie/t5/Pay-As-You-Go-Plans/APN-problem/td-p/203116

biebiebie · 30-03-2017 11:16pm

And a very similar one here!
https://community.vodafone.ie/t5/Pay-As-You-Go-Plans/being-charged-for-data/td-p/206413/page/2

mikeoneilly · 31-03-2017 9:28am

Can I switch to Vodafone when buying one of their prepay fones online and then sign up for this deal?

Klingon Hamlet · 31-03-2017 10:33am

mikeoneilly wrote: »

Can I switch to Vodafone when buying one of their prepay fones online and then sign up for this deal?

Yes. Don't top up until after you've switched to Vodafone X.

judeboy101 · 31-03-2017 10:05pm

Have a nokia windows phone any idea how to avoid the charges ? deal worked like a dream but i was able to use my phone as a hotspot with meteor for free

Senna · 01-04-2017 12:01am

I'm 38 but have a valid student card, can I go into the Vodafone shop and not have to mess around with Facebook and age stuff?

Speckydodge · 01-04-2017 12:34am

Senna wrote:

I'm 38 but have a valid student card, can I go into the Vodafone shop and not have to mess around with Facebook and age stuff?

Yeah

biebiebie · 01-04-2017 12:42am

Senna wrote: »

I'm 38 but have a valid student card, can I go into the Vodafone shop and not have to mess around with Facebook and age stuff?

IMHO It's probably easier (read less stressful!) to mess with Facebook. Just a guess!

Let us know how you get on.

oakshade · 01-04-2017 11:00pm

Senna wrote:

I'm 38 but have a valid student card, can I go into the Vodafone shop and not have to mess around with Facebook and age stuff?

Similar age to you. Went into the store, the guy just took a photocopy of my student card, ported my number and signed me up there and then. Very simple and all done in less than 10 minutes.

P.S. This is a great BA. If you download the My Vodafone app, you get a `fabulous Friday` gift. Last Friday it was 1GB of data! Looking forward to seeing what I get next week.

DopeTech · 02-04-2017 2:07pm

oakshade wrote: »

Similar age to you. Went into the store, the guy just took a photocopy of my student card, ported my number and signed me up there and then. Very simple and all done in less than 10 minutes.

P.S. This is a great BA. If you download the My Vodafone app, you get a `fabulous Friday` gift. Last Friday it was 1GB of data! Looking forward to seeing what I get next week.

It's usually a competition of some sort so you don't get something every week but it's nice little bonus all the same.

noisenotmusic · 04-04-2017 6:43am

Just signed up for the Sky Sports pack and have everything sorted except I can only seem to get Pack 1 (Sky Sports 1 & 2) and not Pack 2? The terms & conditions mention you get both.

"Vodafone X with Sky Sports Mobile, which includes 20GB Data, unlimited any network texts, 100 any network minutes plus Sky Sports Mobile TV packs 1 & 2, for 4 weeks."

I'm only actually after Pack 2 as that has the stuff I watch (NFL/WWE).

Vodafone X - €20 Prepay Offers

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